Powder fire extinguisher



1954 F. B. ALLEN ETAL 2,667,225

POWDER FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Nov. 21, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l w my "mum" INVENTORS fknmd ALLEN AND BY A/ORMAN/ J/EBE/VJ Jan. 26, 1954 ALLEN ETAL 2,667,225

POWDER FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Nov. 21, 1949 3 Sheets-Shut 2 za'g/r 20 5; g: 1711 7:7- 76 j z 8 Q 18 16 19 97 IN V EN TORS J5 FRAN/(fi. AL L /v n/vo NORMA/V h. Swan/s ATTORNEY .Jan. 26, 1954 ALLEN ETAL 2,667,225-

POWDER FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Nov. 21, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TORS FfimvxdALuwAn/o NORMA/V h. 1E 55 A TTOAWEX Patented Jan. 26, 1954 POWDER FIRE EXTINGUISHER Frank B. Allen, East Orange,

Towaco, and Norman H. Siebens, N. J., assignors to C-O-Two Fire Equipment Company, Newark, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application November 21, 1949, Serial N 0. 128,513

9 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to fire extinguishers, and more particularly to fire extinguishers in which the extinguishing agent is a dry powder.

In an extinguisher of this type the powder may be expelled by the release of a compressed charge of a suitable gas such as carbon dioxide, which is also a fire extinguishing agent. It is important that there be a free flow of the powder during the entire discharge of the extinguisher. It has been found, in some cases, that during periods of nonuse of the extinguisher the dry powder gradually tends to become less free-flowing, and difiiculty has been had in that the powder has become so caked as to produce an uneven discharge.

In some prior constructions the structure of the extinguisher has been complex and expensive to manufacture and, in many cases, has failed to operate when needed for extinguishing a fire.

Generally these difiiculties have been overcome by an extinguisher according to the present invention which is discharged when inverted and struck against a surface such as the ground, the impact accomplishing the double purpose of loosening the powder and releasing the charge of compressed gas to discharge the powder.

The present invention aims to overcome the difiiculties and disadvantages of prior devices by providing an improved fire extinguisher which is simple and economical in manufacture and which is rugged in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an extinguisher in which the cartridge of compressed gas may be readily positioned in the extinguisher after it has been charged with the dry powder extinguishing agent.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dry powder fire extinguisher using a cartridge of compressed gas as the expelling agent in which the gas cartridge is readily removable for weighing to ascertain if it has retained its charge and thus is fit for service.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved safety locking means for a fire extinguisher.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings which show, by way of examples, embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dry powder fire extinguisher in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view of the extinguisher shown in Figure 1 with the discharge nozzle secured in retaining means.

Figure 3 is a top view of the extinguisher.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the fire extinguisher. The bottom of the extinguisher and the discharge hose are shown as broken away.

Figure 5 is a. vertical sectional view through the nozzle retaining member.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 6-5 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment ofthe invention in which the cartridge casing is made with a one-way valve construction venting into the powder container.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a dry powder extinguisher I in accordance with the invention. The extinguisher comprises an outer receptacle or container 2 which may be of the usual type for pressurized fire extinguishers. The top end of the container is provided with a casting 3 fastened to container upper edge by a welded or soldered connection 4. The casting 3 is exteriorly threaded as indicated at 5 and fit ted with a cover -6. The top of the inner edge of the casting is recessed to provide a shoulder 1.

The cover or retaining cap 6 is made with a conventional handle ring 8 providing means for the easy removal of the cover as well as to provide means for the carrying of the extinguisher. The cover 6 is made of any suitable metal, such as brass or steel and may be cast for economy of construction. The bottom of the cover 6 has an outer downwardly turned interiorly threaded portion 9 adapted to engage with the threaded casting 3 forming the top of the container 2. The lower edge of the threaded portion 9 is apertured as indicated at H] to provide venting means for any pressurized gas which may be in the container 2 when the cover 6' is removed. By this means the pressure will be relieved before the cover is completely unscrewed so as to eliminate the possibility of the cover being blown away and causing 6 has an upwardly extending tubular portion ll acting as a guideway for a plunger 12, preferably made of a non-corrosive material such as stainless steel and which has at its lower end a piercing pin l4. The lower end of the upper tubular portion H has an opening [5 or the proper diameter so as to provide a snug fit for the reciprocation of the plunger I2. Above the opening I5 in the tubular portion II is a recess l6 provided for a spring I! adapted to abut against damage or injury. The cover floor [8 of the recess IS. A pair of intersecting bores [9 are made under the floor [8 of the recess providing vent means to the exterior for any powder which may leak past the plunger !2, the bores preventing the powder from entering the recess It. A cap member for the plunger the cap member 20 for the upper end of the spring ll which abuts top surface of the recess.

The cover 6 is also provided with a down;-v wardly turned tubular portion. 34 including en-. largement of the opening l5 to provide a recess for the threaded engagement of an apertured insert 35 having itsupper end extending into the intersecting bores l9 so. as to provide a guide! way for the plunger l2 of a nature so as to prevent any water which may enter the intersecting bores I9 from flowing between the insert 35 and the wall of plunger I2. At the lower end of the insert 35 is a packing 31 adapted to prevent fiuid leakage upwardly along the plunger l2. The downwardly turned tubular portion 34 of the cover has the opening l5 still further enlarged to receive another apertured insert 40 having a flanged end 4|.

Means are provided for removably securing a gas cartridge to the inner side of the cover and to provide a swiveling action thereof by a cartridge cap member Q2 having an apertured and flanged upper end 44 adapted to receive the apertured insert 40 to loosely hold the cap member to the downwardly turned tubular portion 3 of the cover. The cap member 42 is interior-1y ithreaded at its lower end as indicated at 45 to receive an exteriorly threaded closure 'fitting- 46 for a gas cartridge M. apertured as indicated at 49 to provide for the discharge of l the gas from the cartridge 41.

The gas cartridge 41 is provided with the usual interiorly threaded neck 50 having its opening closedby the fitting 46. At the upper end of the fitting lfithere is provided a closure disc recess 5|. adapted to receive a frangible disc 52 secured in position by a retaining ring 54. The

cartridge fitting 46 and the cap member 42 are formedwith hexagonal outer surfaces to facilitate the attachment of these parts together.

The casing 2 is adapted to be'substantially filled with any suitable dry powder composition, such as is generally principally comprised of sodium bicarbonate with other compounds which addto the non-caking and fire extin guishing qualities of the powder. In order that the gas cartridge 51 may be readily removed and replacedin the container without disturbing the powder charge, a cartridge. casing 56. is provided which may be made of a stamping and should be of a diameter and shape so as to readily receive the gas cartridge 41. The upper end of the casing 56 is preferably formed with a rolled edge 51 so that the inner casing may be supported within the outer receptacle 2 .by engagement of the rolled edge 51 against the shoulder- I of the casting 3. An, annular inwardly extend The cap member 6-2 ising collar 53 is spun or otherwise formed in the upper end of the casing 55. The fitting 46 is made with a hexagonal shape and its diameter across the corners of the hexagon is such that it will not drop below the collar 53. Thus if the fitting 4B is insecurely attached to the cap member 42, and should be shaken free by vibration, the gas cartridge 4'! is maintained in proper position for the piercing of its frangible disc 52. The casing 56 is formed with a plurality of apertures 59 near its upper edge but below the casting 3 so as to permit the passage of gas from the cartridge 41 into the body of the casing 2. The casing 56 has formed therein on its bottom end a downwardly directed transversely extending rid e 58. The ridge 58 is for use in aiding the insertion of the casing 56 into the powder charge. By turning the casing as it is urged downwardly, the powder is moved away from the end of the casing without causing the packing or caking of the powder. This construction is advantageous as a discharge of the extinguisher results in a chilling of the cartridge which thus tends to'condense moisture on its outer surface, the casing 56 acts asa receiver for the moisture preventing it from getting into the powder and thus causing caking thereof.

A discharge outlet for the container 2 may-be formed from a tubular fitting 69 soldered or welded in an aperture in the container 2 as in dicated at E i. It should be noted that the outlet fitting 65 is positioned adjacent the top of the container 2 so as to provide an outlet and hose which will be free of the powder during normal storage of the extinguisher. The fitting 60 may be interlorly threaded to receive end 62' of the elbow 64 which has its lower end 65 threaded;

to receive the connection 65 of a conventional outlet hose 6?. A discharge nozzle valve 68 of any suitable type may be attached to the end of the hose 5?, the nozzle valve being preferably provided with a squeezeegrip actuated shutofi valve lever 69 so that the extinguisher may be intermittently operated.

The nozzle valve fifiis held in position during storage of the extinguisher by a flexible retaining cap ill attached toja. boss H on the elbow 64 by a screw 12. The inside surface of the retaining ca Hi is formed with a plurality of annular ridges 73 so that the nozzle is easily inserted and removed therefrom. A plurality of longitudinally extending passages 14 are made across the corrugations to permit any leaking gas to escape without building up a pressure to force the nozzle away from the retaining cap. The re? taining cap is claimed in our copending appli'.-. cation for Fire Extinguisher Nozzle Retaining Means, Serial No. 349,908, filed April 20, 1953.

Locking means are provided to prevent the accidental discharge of the pressurized container 47, as during transportation, bya locking clip 75 extending partially about a reduced or grooved portion 15 of the upwardly extending tubular portion H of the-cover. The grooved portion 16 has an inclined or beveled lower edge ltd formed at an angle of approximately 30 degrees from the outer surface of the tubular portion H The inner ends of the locking clip 75 are apertured as indicated at 1-! to. receive a breakable sealingwire 18. A pull ring. is attached by a chain 89 to the handle ring 8 is retained in a pinched portion 8! of the locking clip i5to facilitate the pulling away of the locking clip and the-breaking of the-sealing wire-7:8; The locking means is -important as it readily gives a visual indicationas not easily and quickly removable. in case of emergency such as in the event of a fire. A feature of the present construction is the means whereby the extinguisher may be operated without separately removing the locking ring to rupture the sealing wire 78. By reason of the use of the inclined edge Isa on the grooved portion 16, the locking clip 15 may be displaced and the cap member depressed to operate the extinguisher by using slightly more force than usual in operating the extinguisher. In such operation the beveled edge 16a spreads the clip 15 so as to permit the operating movement of the ca member 20. The tension of the clip member 15 and the breaking strength of the sealing wire 18 preferably are so proportioned that by using a degree angle for the beveled edge 16a a steady pressure or about 200 pounds will not operate the extinguisher, while if the extinguisher is inverted and dropped against a hard surface from a height of one to two inches the extinguisher will be operated.

In operating the fire extinguisher in the usual manner the locking clip 15 is removed and the extinguisher is inverted so that the cap member 20 may be struck against a surface such as the ground to loosen the powder charge and to move the plunger l2 inwardly to cause the piercing pin I4 to penetrate the disc 52 of the cartridge '41. The released gas charge cooperates with the spring I! to return the piercing pin Hi to its normal position and the released gas passes through the apertures 49 and 59 into the body of the outer receptacle or casing 2. As the gas passes through the charge the powder is loosened still further and agitated so that it will be expelled through the discharge fitting 6D, the outlet hose 61, and out the nozzle 68 as the squeeze grip valve is actuated. In the event intermittent operation is desired, the squeeze-grip valve may be released to shut off the discharge.

Referring to Figure 7 there is shown a cartridge casing 90 having a rolled top edge 9| to engage with the shoulder 1. The lower end of the casing 90 is apertured to receive a one-way valve assembly which may be threaded, welded or otherwise secured in position. The valve assembly comprises a valve seat 94, a valve member 95, and a spring 92 tending to urge the valve member 95 on its seat 94. It will be observed the valve member 95 is readily moved from its seat to allow the passage of fluid from the gas cartridge to the outer casing 2. The valve member 95 is held against its seat by the spring 92 as the casing 98 is moved into a powder charge in the outer casing 2. This construction is not only advantageous in keeping powder out of the casing but it provides an outlet for the pressurizing fluid to add to the impact shock as the extinguisher is inverted to be discharged thus completely dislodging and pressurizing the powder charge and urging it towards the outlet 60.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to a specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that other embodiments may be resorted to without departing from the invention. For example, while the gas cartridge has been described as being of the disc-sealed type openable by a piercing pin, an equivalent construction may utilize a gas cartridge closed by a. valve member openable by a valve operating member in lieu of the piercing pin. Therefore, the form of the invention set out above should be considered as illustrative and not a limiting the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A dry powder fire extinguisher adapted to.

be discharged while inverted, the extinguisher comprising a container, mean providing an out let adjacent the top of the container above the normal powder level, means providing a charging opening at the top of the container, a gas cartridge to expel the powder from the container through the outlet, a discharge head unitary assembly including cartridge opening means,

and universal joint means on the under surface of the discharge head carrying the cartridge and supporting it in operative position with respect to the cartridge opening means, whereby the insertion of the cartridge into the powder charge is facilitated.

2. A dry powder fire extinguisher comprising.

a container, a, discharge head for the container including a piercing pin, a cartridge for compressed gas adapted to be penetrated by the piercing pin to release the gas, the discharge head having a chamber about the upper end of the piercing pin for a spring chamber, and a spring in the spring chamber to normally urge the piercing pin away from the cartridge, the discharge head having an intermediate chamber vented to the atmosphere and positioned about the piercing pin between the spring chamber and the container whereby powder leaking along the piercing pin is exhausted to the atmosphere.

3. A fire extinguisher comprising a container for an extinguishing agent, a discharge head for the container including an upwardly directed extension a piercing pin slidably carried by the extension, a cap to actuate the piercing pin, a cartridge for compressed gas adapted to be penetrated by the piercing pin to expel the extinguish ing agent from the container, and a removable safety clip to releasably restrain the piercing pin from penetrating the cartridge, the upwardly directed extension having an annular groove to receive the safety clip, the lower edge of the groove inclined downwardly and outwardly so that when the safety clip is compressed between the inclined surface and the cap member the clip is spread to allow the piercing pin to operate the extinguisher.

4. A dry powder fire extinguisher adapted to be discharged while inverted, the extinguisher comprising a container, means providng an outlet adjacent the top of the container above the normal powder level, means providing a charging opening at the top of the container, a gas cartridge to expel the powder from the container through the outlet, a discharge head unitary assembly including means on its under surface to carry the cartridge and means to release the gas from the cartridge, an open-top casing manipulatable from the exterior of the container into the dry powder to provide space for the gas cartridge, means within the container adjacent the charging opening to support the casing with its top edge practically at the outer edge of the filling opening, and fluid passage means positioned wholly within the container to lead the gas discharge into the dry powder.

5. A dry powder fire extinguisher adapted to be discharged while inverted, the extinguisher comprising a container, means providing an out let adjacent the top of the container, means providing a charging opening at the top of the container, a gas cartridge to expel the powder from the container through the outlet, a "discharge head including means on its under surface to carry the cartridge and means to release the gas from the cartridge, an opentop casing havingan enlarged upper end and man'ipulatable from the exterior of the container, a rib'projecting from the bottom of the casing to facilitate the insertion of the easing into the dry powder to provide space for the gas cartridge, means within the container adjacent the charging opening forming a shoulder to support the casing, and fluid passage means positioned wholly within the container to lead the gas discharge into the dry powder.

'6. A dry powder fire extinguisher adapted to be discharged while inverted, the extinguisher comprising aicontainer, means providing an outlet adjacent the top of the container above the normal powder level, a gas cartridge to expel the powder from the container through the outlet, a discharge head unitary assembly including means on its under surface to carry the cartridge and means to release the gas from the cartridge, an open-top casing having a rolled-top edge and manipulatable from the exterior of the container til into the dry powder to provide space for the :gas 7 cartridge, means within the container adjacent the charging opening forming a shoulder to sup port the casing by its rolled-top edge practically at the outer edge of the filling opening, and means providing an aperture in the wail of the casing positioned wholly within the container to lead the gas discharge into the dry powder,

7. A dry powder fire extinguisher adapted to 'be discharged while inverted, the extinguisher comprising a container, means providing an outlet adjacent the top of the container above the normal powder level, a gas cartridge to expel the powder'from the container through the outlet, a discharge head unitary assembly including universal joint means on its under surface to carry the cartridge, a piercing pin in the discharge head topenetrate the cartridge, a cap to actuate the piercing pin to release the gas from the cartridge, an open-top casing manipulatable from the ex terior of the container to be forced into the dry powder to provide space for the gas cartridge, the casing having a rolled-top edge, a shoulder within the container adjacent the charging opening to support the rolled edge of the casing practically at the outer edge of the filling opening, the casing apertured to provide fluid passage means wholly within the container to lead the gas discharge into the dry powder, and a removable safety clip to releasably restrain the piercing pin from penetrating the cartridge, the piercing pin having an annular groove to receive the safety clip, the lower edge of the groove inclined so that. when the safety clip is compressed between the inclined surface and the discharge head the clip is spread to allow the piercing pin "to re-, lease the gas from the cartridge to expel the powder. I g I '8. A dry powder fire extinguisher adapted to be discharged while inverted, the extinguisher comprising a' oontai-ner, means-providing an out let adjacent the top of the container above the normal powder level, 'means providing a -charg in-g opening at the top of the container, a gas cartridge to expel the powder from the con tainer through the outlet, a discharge head unitary assembly including universal joint means on its under surface to carry the cartridge, means to release the gas from the cartridge carried by the discharge head, an open-top easing mani ulatapl'e from the exterior of the container into the dry powder to provide space for the gas cartridge, means within the container adjacent the charging opening to support the casing with the casing top edge practically at the top edge of the filling opening, and fluid passage means positioned wholly within the container to lead the gas discharge into the powder.

9. A dry powder fire extinguisher adaptedto be discharged while inverted, the extinguisher comprising a container, means providing outlet adjacent the top of the container above-the normal powder level, means providing a charg ing opening at the top of the container, a gas cartridge to expel the powder from the container through the outlet, a discharge hea'd unitary assembly includingmeans on its under surface to cariy the cartridge ran d means to release the gas from the cartridge, an open -top casing manipulatable from the exterior of the container into the dry powder to provide space for the gas cartridge, means within the container adjacent the charging opening to support the casing with its top edge practically at the outer edge of the 'filling'opening, and fluid passage means positioned wholly within the con-'- 7 tainer to lead the gas discharge into the dry powder, the fluid passage means including a check valve positioned at the closed end of the open top casing and adapted to permit new "of gas outwardly from the casing and to block new of powder into the casing.

' FRANK .B. ALLEN.

NORMAN H. SIEBENS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 940,614 Read et a1. Nov. 16, 1909 1,634,976 Burke July 5, 1927 1,866,981 Meigs July 12, 1932 1,918,191 Paulus July 11, 1933 1,976,056 Wright Oct. 9, 1934 2,181,488 Lindsay Nov. 28, 1939 2,371,959 Dufiield et a1 Mar. 20, 1945 2,558,409 Allen June 26, 1951 

